The city has been a hot bed for news over the last couple of weeks, mainly for the outstanding performances given by students in the JEE Main and Advanced. Now, it is not just the performance that is in the limelight but also the pressure under which the students are, that is driving them to commit suicides. The four suicides that have occurred in the city have raised the concern of the coaching experts and psychiatrists. They now are looking at ways to reach out to students and detect early signs to prevent such untoward incidents.
Rohit Singh (18) of Bihar was found hanging at his
residence in Mahalakshmipuram apartments of Kota City. He was living with his
parents and was preparing for the JEE at a coaching institute in Kota. Nibha
Kumari of Chhatra district of Jharkhand, Sarthak Yadav (17) of Uttar Pradesh
and o Divyansh Vishwakarma of Jonpur (UP) also committed suicides by hanging
themselves in June. Most of these students have left suicide notes which points
out to stress mainly because of the studies.
However, this is not the first
time that students have committed suicides in Kota which is famous for the
success of its coaching institutes in the medical and engineering entrance
examinations. The trend of recent years reflects rise in such suicides. As per
the Kota City Police records, the number of suicides was 11 in the year 2012,
26 in 2013, and fourteen in the year 2014. So far, this year, the city has
recorded 12 suicides.
Vinit Kumar, a student from UP who is preparing for the
JEE in Kota, said that, the expectations from the family was very high. He also
added that the competitive environment in the city was also a major contributor
to stress.
Coaching experts and psychiatrists cite several other reasons that
force the students to commit suicide in the city. Dr. M.L. Agrawal, Senior
Psychiatrist and Director, Agrawal NeuroPsychiatry Center, Kota cited
physiological and psychological stress is caused due to homesickness, parental
pressure and competition apart from the studies. He said that counselling is
the best remedy for students.
However, apathy towards the issue can be gauged from the fact
that the psychiatric and general counselling centre which was established with
the support of district administration Hope Society, in Kota around 5 years
back, for the aide of students is closed from the last few months.
The coaching institutes of Kota blame parental pressure and
emotional issues of the students for the suicides. Naveen Maheshwari, Director,
Allen Career Institute, Kota, informed that their coaching institutes have
hired psychiatrists and counsellors for the counselling of students. He however
also said that parents should not pressurize their kids over studies.
Psychiatrists, counsellors cite the best way to beat
stress is to share their feelings and problems with close confidants. Students
must also take out time for regular sports and other activity during their stay
in Kota for coaching. Failure must not deter them, and it is important to
remember that engineering and medical exam is not the end of the road. There
are multiple career options available. Seeking help and reaching out when in
distress is important as well.